By Raphielle Johnson
Whereas scheduling might not impression fantasy basketball managers’ pondering in the identical method that it does soccer, that is a necessary issue to contemplate. There aren’t bye weeks to take care of, however there are back-to-backs, with some gamers being digital locks to persistently sit out a type of video games.
One other scheduling facet that requires consideration is the fantasy playoff dates and the schedules of NBA groups throughout these dates. Some groups are competing for postseason positioning, whereas these properly out of the image might have reached some extent the place much less established gamers are taking up many of the workload. Let’s take a look at the 2024-25 schedule breakdown and the way it will impression the fantasy basketball season.
– Six groups will play a league-high 16 back-to-backs
Six groups drew the proverbial “quick stick,” with Cleveland, Houston, the Clippers, Oklahoma Metropolis, Sacramento, and Washington scheduled to play 16 back-to-backs apiece. One participant who instantly involves thoughts right here is Kawhi Leonard, whose 2023-24 season got here to a untimely finish because of a knee damage, and he was additionally despatched house earlier than the US started its quest for Olympic gold in Paris this summer time. And Tyronn Lue will not have to attend lengthy to navigate a back-to-back, with the Clippers scheduled for his or her first on October 26-27 (at Denver, at Golden State).
The excellent news is that their subsequent sport will not be till October 30 in opposition to Portland, however enjoying two troublesome opponents on the highway (with one at excessive altitude) will give fantasy managers an early reply on how the Clippers will deal with Leonard’s availability. The dangerous information is that the October 30 sport in opposition to Portland is adopted by one other house sport in opposition to the Suns the next night time. Two back-to-backs inside a workforce’s first 5 video games is obsence, and will put some fantasy managers in a troublesome spot relating to Leonard’s availability. The Clippers will play seven of their 16 back-to-backs earlier than the calendar flips to 2025.
Cleveland will be the most regarding workforce among the many different 5 because of their injury-riddled 2023-24 season. Three of the Cavaliers’ 5 starters – Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley – performed fewer than 60 video games final season. The excellent news is that Mitchell (27) is the oldest of the trio, so fantasy managers will not should be as involved concerning the scheduling as they’d for a participant who’s properly into his thirties.
Houston’s Tari Eason may take a slight hit to his worth as a result of scheduling, however provided that he is not absolutely cleared when the common season begins. The Rockets play a house/away back-to-back on October 25 (vs. Memphis) and 26 (at San Antonio), and ten of their 16 back-to-backs shall be performed within the 2025 portion of the slate. In addition they have consecutive back-to-backs on November 22-23 (two vs. Portland) and November 26-27 (at Minnesota, at Philadelphia).
– Twelve groups, together with Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Phoenix, play 15 back-to-backs
There are some notable names amongst groups that may play 15 back-to-backs, together with Joel Embiid and Paul George (Philadelphia), Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant (Phoenix), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee), and Zion Williamson (New Orleans). Whereas George (76 video games in 2023-24) and Williamson (70 video games) had stable availability final season, others missed prolonged time because of damage. As a consequence of a knee damage, Embiid solely performed 39 video games and did not look to be at full power in the course of the postseason. He regarded higher within the Paris Olympics, however availability stays a priority for the 2023 NBA MVP.
Middleton’s fantasy peak could also be within the rearview mirror, and the Bucks schedule does not assist issues. Milwaukee performs its first back-to-back on October 27-28 (at Brooklyn, at Boston), they usually’ll play 4 earlier than the top of November. With Middleton present process surgical procedure on each ankles this offseason, the schedule may knock him down one other peg or two in some fantasy leagues. Phoenix will play six back-to-backs earlier than 2025, with the primary occurring throughout video games two and three of the season, whereas New Orleans will play eight.
The Pelicans have two cases of consecutive back-to-backs throughout this portion of the schedule: November 15-16 (vs. Denver, vs. Lakers) and November 19-20 (at Dallas, at Cleveland), and December 21-22 (vs. New York, vs. Denver) and December 26-27 (vs. Houston, vs. Memphis). Williamson’s identify will be the one that stands out right here, however Brandon Ingram has endured an absence of a minimum of 5 video games in every of his final 4 seasons. We’ll see if the early-season schedule impacts his availability, and it isn’t like gamers solely get injured throughout back-to-backs.
– 5 groups are scheduled to play 14 back-to-backs
Charlotte, Golden State, Indiana, Minnesota, and Utah have the second-fewest back-to-backs this season. LaMelo Ball is the participant most impacted amongst these 5 groups, having performed 58 video games over the past two seasons (22 in 2023-24). His shaky availability may make a Tre Mann or Vasilije Micic related in intense fantasy leagues, and it additionally impacts safer fantasy choices like Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller. Mark Williams has solely performed 62 video games in his first two seasons, with a again damage limiting him to 19 in 2023-24. Charlotte performs two of its 14 back-to-backs inside the first two weeks of the season, October 25-26 (at Atlanta, vs. Miami) and November 1-2 (two vs. Boston).
The opposite 4 groups with 14 back-to-backs haven’t any vital purple flags to take care of health-wise, with Indiana’s depth seemingly defending it probably the most. The query with the Warriors is that if there shall be occasions after they look to relaxation Stephen Curry or Draymond Inexperienced, however there additionally is not a lot margin for error within the Western Convention. Utah ought to be value watching after the All-Star break, as Will Hardy’s workforce doesn’t seem like one which shall be combating for a postseason berth this season. Gamers like Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George, and rookie Cody Williams may show particularly helpful if Utah makes an in-season shift towards giving its youthful expertise extra minutes, as was the case for the final two seasons.
– Boston and the Lakers amongst those that will play 13 back-to-backs
Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, the Lakers, Orlando, and Portland will play a league-low 13 back-to-backs this season. The Celtics and Lakers are value watching due to their older contributors. Al Horford didn’t play each ends of any back-to-backs final season, and at age 38, that may seemingly be the case for him once more this season. Additionally, the Celtics might not get Kristaps Porzingis again from offseason leg surgical procedure till November or December. Boston performs 5 of its 13 back-to-backs earlier than the top of December, with the primary being two highway video games in opposition to the Hornets on November 1-2. Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman aren’t viable targets in most drafts, however there could also be streaming worth available till Porzingis is cleared to return.
As for the Lakers, getting LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a lot relaxation as attainable is paramount for a workforce that made no vital adjustments to its roster this offseason. The previous will flip 40 on December 30, and by that time within the season, the Lakers could have performed 4 back-to-backs. LeBron performed 71 video games in 2023-24, probably the most for him in a season since his final in Cleveland (82 in 2017-18), whereas Davis performed a career-high 76. Fantasy managers who’ve James and AD rostered ought to be in place if they’ll replicate that availability.
Among the many different groups with 13 back-to-backs, Detroit and Portland stand to be Most worthy to fantasy managers after the commerce deadline. Each groups have gamers who’re must-draft choices, most notably Cade Cunningham and Deandre Ayton, however there shall be some younger gamers who emerge because the Pistons and Path Blazers play out the string in what ought to be non-playoff seasons. Will rookies Ron Holland II (Detroit) and Donovan Clingan (Portland) have added worth after the commerce deadline? That is dependent upon whether or not or not a veteran at their respective positions will get moved through commerce, with Robert Williams (Portland) being one identify to keep watch over.
– All groups will get two countable video games throughout Week 8
The schedules for Week 8 in Monday-Sunday leagues (December 9-15) will not be identified till after the group play stage of the Emirates NBA Cup is accomplished. As was the case final season, the quarterfinals (December 10-11) and semifinals (December 14) will depend towards fantasy matchups and NBA statistics, whereas the championship sport (December 17) won’t. The 22 groups not qualifying for the quarterfinals will play two video games that week. Because of the championship sport being on a Tuesday this yr (it was Saturday final season), Week 9 boasts loaded Thursday (December 19) and Saturday (December 21) slates. There are 13 video games on that Thursday and 12 on Saturday. As for back-to-backs, Charlotte, Miami, Milwaukee, Oklahoma Metropolis, and New Orleans could have one to navigate throughout Week 9. Charlotte and Oklahoma Metropolis play on December 19-20, whereas Miami and Milwaukee have video games on December 20 and 21. As for New Orleans, they’re going to play a back-to-back on December 21-22.
– Minnesota and New Orleans are the groups to keep away from throughout playoff time in Yahoo default leagues
In Yahoo default leagues, the fantasy playoffs will run from Week 20 (March 10-16) via Week 22 (March 24-30). The Timberwolves and Pelicans are at a drawback, with each scheduled to play a league-low 9 video games throughout this era. Minnesota will play three video games every of these weeks, so managers who’ve these gamers rostered will not take too large of a success. As for the Pelicans, Week 20 (two video games) is problematic, however New Orleans will play 4 video games in Week 21. In leagues with weekly lineups, a fringe choice who ought to be benched for the quarterfinal spherical could have added worth in the course of the semifinals.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, 5 groups will play 12 video games in the course of the Yahoo default playoff rounds. Brooklyn, Indiana, Philadelphia, San Antonio, and Washington will play 12 occasions, with the Nets and Wizards having five-game slates for Week 20. Each will drop to a few video games in Week 21 earlier than enjoying 4 throughout Championship Week. The opposite three groups play 4 video games in every of the ultimate three weeks of the Yahoo fantasy basketball season. One other evident scheduling concern in the course of the playoff rounds is Dallas (10 video games) enjoying two video games in Week 21. The excellent news is that they’re going to play 4 video games in Weeks 20 and 22, however managers who’ve a Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving rostered might want to discover a approach to survive Week 21.
